Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-05
BETWEEN FRANCE AND GER
MANY.
Prom THE STARS London Correspondent

LONDON, March H.
For many weeks past, as OF course you VIII
nave learned daily by cable, the English public
has been prepared for a sudden outbreak of hos
untles between France and Germany, and MOI
only was the belief in this common among peo-
pie generally, but IL was also shared 10y dplo-
matlsts and military men OF such high rank as 10
render certain their intimate knowledge OF Euro
pean military affairs AT present this has To
great extent abated either as the result OF The
German elections or from one OF the common hut
ineXplfcabie turns or public opinion There can I've
no assurance, however. that similar rumors will not
soon be prevalent again, and any Information as
uistlnguiShed from mere bran throwing light upon
any Definite factors In the International situation
cannon be without advantage During the recent
scare II was noticeable that the most alarming NJ
ports were always concerned with affairs or &C.
SufIcnces on The actual FrincoIsprinan frontier.
They began with the reiterated assertions in the
German press that bodies OF French troops We're
masSlng there. and that hats sufficient To shelter
hundred Thousand men wei,, Ia process of hasty
erection. Then followed stories OF the purchase
OF hundreds or wagon loads of timber ia he Nos-
yes TOT the erection OF mere nuts These again
were followed by stories OF wholesale arrests and
domiciliary visits i'm Alsace, and the alleged dis
coyery OF conspiracies there. iostened by NJ. he
rouledes ''Ligue DIES Patriotes" Next came the
TACT OF the return OF the protesting Deputies from
the annexed provinces, with the consequent re-
n0unced that Gen. Boulnnger himself was about
To pay rapid visit 10 the French frontier Tor
of their readiness FOR attack or defense
No London journal had "A correspondent al or
near the frontier, and none has since been des-
patched. Taking advantage, Therefore, OF a some
what permptory order from Dr. Robson Roose,
who, IL Will be remembered has recently des-
patched Lord Randolph Churchill 10 Egypt and
removed Sir Michael Hicks- Beach bodily IRON his
post In the government 10 get couple OF weeks
! rest out OF England, determined 10 spend them
in passing along the frontier line and through
Alsace and Lorraine, to see for myself what four
dalton there might be for all these alarming and
extremely Injurious reports, 80 far could be
done by private person by the use Of his own
eyes and ears.
The frontier from Luxembourg TO Beliort is ex-
actly l4o miles long. This IS crossed 10y seven or
eight lines OF railroad, but there is no line running
along II, and much OF il is Therefore, Inaccessible
| by train. There remained, therefore. the ques-
ZION Of conveyance. and as the roads are known 10
| be excellent and the weather happened 80 be un-
usually fine for the time vi year. chose a bicycle
ana nave had every reason TO be satisfied with the
choice. The bicycle is, 80 far as know a novelty
| for the use OF the special correspondent but my
experience upon one of McssrS. Numbers safety"
machineS-the modern bicycle resembling the Old
boneshaker with two medium-eized wheels of
about equal size, between which the rider sits
has shown the convenience, both as regards speed
aDd economy, or this means Of Progression. Amer
lean cyclists by the way. Will be interested Ia
learn that the bicycle Is already adopted in tbe
German army for the conveyance OF dispatches
between the great entrench"d camps and their
outlying FORTS and that Gen Bouanger, at the
present moment the CHIEF European innoyatoy
has decided upon its immediate introduc, ION INTO
the French army for scouting and general courier
duties.
A TALK WITH GEN. BoULANGER
With Gen. Boul niger himself had an interview
In Paris before starring, and As he is one OF the
poles so TO speak between which the elect ric rl-
mors have passed across Europe-Bismarcl being
the Other-and as two directly contradictory az
counts OF him are current, one representing him
as the ideal soldier and leader oi the democracy
gifted In an equal degree with foresight and fear
leSsneSs the other rdiculing him sort OF CON-
pound OF Punchinello and Barnam, any impress
SOns derived from direct intercourse with the man
himself may be OF general interest. The lrst Thing
that strikes the English visitor the French Ma
tsfere de To Guerre is the contrast il presents 80
the English war Office. The latter is little squat
and dirty double house dozen yards back from
Pail Mall, resembling in Its interior both i'm c0ndi-
ton and construction a huge Rabbit warren. The
former is a magnificent new stone building, with
broad flights OF marble steps. filled with ifescoes
and paintings. scarlet and gilt furniture, and
suites or imposing reception-rt,ons leading one
into another through large mahogany foding-
doors. Into tie last of these suites
was shown 10 await the now famous
the room one saw clearly how mistaken
is the common conception OF his personality. He
hair, brown beard. rather a red face, and above
all things quiet looking almost 10 commonplace
ness. HIS mother Wa, an English woman, and
except for the slight point 90 his bearu he him
self would bc taken Tor an Engli,Eman any
where He wore the ordinary French civilian ;
dress OF black frock coat and trousers. WITH Oily
the single red spot in his button-hUIe. 1nis, 10y
the way, was also the dress OF half-l-6ozcn gen.
erals who seemed TO perform SORT OF special duty
by being present about the Ntnfyt,rc. IN fnahners
General Boulanger is not more striking Than in
appearance. He speaks slowly, like most soldiers
but without much gesture aud without ,nTch
force either OF voice or Language, appearing in
the latter respect particularly dun ny comparison
with NJ. C!emenceau, who Introduced Inc, and
who has the rapid and peculiarly lVcid and terse
speech OF the born French orator. / desired,
IL possible, To induce General BOuanger To
afford me facilities for visiting such military
points on the frontier would DE Inaccessible 70
The ordinary tourist, but which Nigh; Yet De
without af1ordng knowledge 81 :uy strategic OF
other secrets. This he promptly declared 10 Dc
OF the question, for two reasons There are, he
said sin the first place. things which every body
may see, and in the second, things which NOBODY
may see. As regards the former you viii be as
well Oh without my permission as with II. As
CARDS the latter, IL were commander of one "
the frontier districts and stranger came 10 NE
with request from The miGister OF warto conduct
him over my fortress, should simply laugh at
him. There is another thing, too ht added, with
a laugh; II do not think Tor a mouient any one
Will interfere with you but II you should set into
trouble OF any Hind-Journaiists DO sometimes get
into trouble YOU knoW-and L letter from me
should be found upon YOU nay eeInitS IA the press
and elsewhere would hot hesitate 10 Iuke capital
out OF the fact and we should both 81 Us suffer FOR
il. write no letters that can help" he added,
quietly; remark hall jest and HALL earnest,
yiouS reasons. 1 was assured however, tnau 80
far as regarded special war preparations nothing
had been done 10y France. lit is cur duly, or
course, said the minister OF war Ito De ready FOR
whatever may happen, bur ia the way OF what
may be called provocative preparedness yod may
be quite certain that you EI!i md nothing what
ever. AS for those OF dsfis ties PraSs.ns. when
You get on their side, yon VIII see what you viii
See. carried away the impression Oh quiet
serious determined man, Will a clear conception
OF his own powers aa0 parpose Without the Vices
oI briIliance and with the Invaluable virtues OF
mcdiocrity. All this that he told Inc and other
things which have not repeated proved 10 be
quite in accordance with my subsequent expert
ence.
ALONG THE line
Before coming however, 10 the Incidents Of my
trip, II is necessary TO stop for moment to COZ
slider the changes effected ia the genera. military
attitude OF France and Germany towards each
other by the alteration OF the frontier line In ISL
Before the war Of 1870 The Frelch frontier Was
intended for purposes Of attack. The fortresses
themselves, except Metz and >trasburg, were arl-
tiquated in their construction and lnsufhcieptlN
provided with both guns and gdrrisonS. MFizwa,
10 be the great raiyiBg psia; Tor the army on it,
way q Berlin, and Strasburg was 10 b. It's nexi
step. On the outbreak OF hoSiiiticS. ihOi- nds OF
maps OF Western Germany were distributed To the
French troops While one or their Officers has
stated that they found IL impossible 10 secure q
satisfactory map OF Eastern France the t,ertuan
frontier at that time was cOrreSp0niingly one OF
defense, but all this Is changed how. The new
German frontier is rendered - strong b, the nos
session Metz and strasburc, and he perfect Sys
TEN OF railway communication TO the rn.sl and
s,ractfeay iolpa Seate Second line OF deem se-th.
itlaF6e nxi)le khine ALI idea s,f ia